assail
- to attack vigorously or violently; assault.
- to attack with arguments, criticism, ridicule, abuse, etc.: to assail one's opponent with slander.
- to undertake with the purpose of mastering: He assailed his studies with new determination.
- to impinge upon; make an impact on; beset: His mind was assailed by conflicting arguments. The light assailed their eyes.
Origin of assail
Synonyms for assail
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Related Words for assail
impugn, blast, revile, trash, berate, criticize, lambaste, vilify, bash, blister, malign, charge, bust, beset, assault, abuse, maltreat, molest, invade, encounterExamples from the Web for assail
Contemporary Examples of assail
Politics seems to assail Carvalho, forcing him to take up former cudgels and defend his corner.
The Foodie Detective: The Pepe Carvalho Novels by Manuel Vázquez MontalbánMalcolm Forbes
October 3, 2012
The only group that it was okay to assail, she says, was liberals.
Days later, Al Gore suddenly surfaced after months of silence to assail President Obama for his failure to lead on climate change.
Historical Examples of assail
The darts of calamity may assail her on every side, but she is invulnerable to them all.
ImogenWilliam Godwin
At the turret we could assail Hahn, and replace him with Snap.
If you assail me by the brain, I may attack you at the heart!
Sir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume I.Charles James Lever
Besides, the real intention was not to assail you, but the people here who admitted you.'
Lord KilgobbinCharles Lever
What temptations would not assail her,—by what flatteries would she not be beset!
Sir Jasper CarewCharles James Lever
assail
- to attack violently; assault
- to criticize or ridicule vehemently, as in argument
- to beset or disturbhis mind was assailed by doubts
- to encounter with the intention of masteringto assail a problem; to assail a difficult mountain ridge